Chapter 196: My Name Is Ruan Deti

At the end of the mao hour.

When Ding Suian arrived at Chilao Alley carrying deep-fried dough sticks, Old Ding was sitting alone in the courtyard with a bowl of clear water on the stone table and a cold steamed bun in his hand.

“It’s so early, why are you here?”

“Eat this~”

Ding Suian placed the deep-fried dough sticks on the stone table and said, “Dad, take a day off today.”

Upon hearing this strange request from his son, Old Ding neither showed a puzzled expression nor asked why, continuing to gnaw on his steamed bun unhurriedly.

“Dad, Daoist Master Yunxu has been in Central Heaven for so long, you should at least fulfill your duty as a host, right? Why not take her around Central Heaven today and don’t come back tonight.”

As he spoke, young Ding fished a bronze token from his waist and handed it over, grinning, “Here, a large sightseeing suite on the third floor of Yunlai Inn.”

Just look at that, what a thoughtful son he is.

He even already opened the room for him.

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

Old Ding only glanced down at the bronze token and had no intention of accepting the favor.

Ding Suian knew his old man wouldn’t easily listen to advice, so he revealed a bit of information, “Dad, the Winged Tiger Army won’t be peaceful tonight.”

Old Ding currently served as a commander of the C Camp of the Winged Tiger Army. Given his nature of never wanting to get involved in trouble, Ding Suian thought that by dropping this hint, he should change his mind.

Unexpectedly, this time Old Ding said directly, “You mind your own business, I have my own things to do.”

Hiss.

What does that mean?

Does Old Ding already know? And is he involved in it?

Listening to his tone, it seems he is on the same side as young Ding?

“Dad, what do you know?”

Ding Suian asked in a low voice, filled with surprise and doubt.

Old Ding pinched a deep-fried dough stick and put it into his mouth, only saying, “Whatever you know, your dad knows too.”

“…”

Ding Suian looked at Old Ding’s calm demeanor and felt that Old Ding seemed a bit different.

In the afternoon, at the end of the wei hour.

In the back garden of Princess Xingguos Residence.

In early summer, the breeze was not dry, and the sunlight was just right.

Flowers bloomed in the garden, a riot of purple and red, with a rich fragrance lingering in the air, refreshing the heart and lungs.

With exquisite rockeries and winding streams, it was the most gorgeous and charming season of the year for the garden.

Lin Hansu walked with a calm gait, introducing to the two little ones as she walked, “This garden in the Princesss Residence is meticulously designed and not easily seen by outsiders. You two are quite fortunate to see it.”

After saying this, she turned her head to look.

The two little ones who were originally following behind were now one short.

Ruan Ruan was still obediently following behind her, even her curious gaze appearing cautious, clearly still a bit nervous.

But the other one. Lin Hansu scanned around, and finally saw Zhao Yan’s figure by the pond a dozen steps away.

She was half-squatting and half-lying on the bank, her long, narrow fox eyes staring fixedly at the leisurely koi in the pond.

The palace maid beside her seemed to want to persuade her but was afraid of offending the guest, and seemed to want to laugh but dared not, tightly pursing her lips.

Lin Hansu couldn’t help but rebuke in a low voice, “Zhao Yan, what are you doing!”

Zhao Yan turned her head at the sound, not only was she not embarrassed, but she sucked in her saliva with a slurp, pointing at the fish in the water and saying, “Sister, the koi in this pond are so fat! Can we catch two to eat?”

This time, the accompanying palace maid finally couldn’t hold it in, her shoulders trembling slightly as she kept her head down.

“…”

Lin Hansu felt incredibly embarrassed and hurriedly said, “Those aren’t for eating! Come over here quickly.”

“Oh~”

“When you see Your Highness later, you must remember etiquette.” Lin Hansu straightened her expression slightly and patiently instructed, “If Your Highness asks a question, answer clearly. If you don’t know how to answer, admit you don’t know, and avoid babbling nonsense. When bowing, your posture must be correct, your movements gentle, and you must not be impatient.”

As she spoke, she gently demonstrated a standard Wanfu bow.

“I know, I know~”

Zhao Yan hurriedly performed a curtsy, like a child rushing to go out and play while dealing with parents.

Ruan Ruan, on the other hand, earnestly imitated Lin Hansu’s movements, fearing even the slightest mistake, and didn’t forget to whisper to Lin Hansu, “Sister, is it like this?”

Ruan Ruan is still the obedient one!

Lin Hansu stepped forward, helped Ruan Ruan tidy her lapel slightly, and said softly, “No need to be overly nervous. Although Your Highness holds a high position, she is not an unreasonable person. Just treat this as visiting a respected elder; maintain etiquette and be appropriate in your words and actions.”

Just then, an internal official walked up, “Princess Consort, Your Highness requests that you bring the two young ladies to Wangqiu Hall.”

“…”

Ruan Ruan, who had just relaxed a little, immediately became nervous again upon hearing this, hurriedly chanting in her heart, ‘Just be appropriate, just be appropriate.’

Lin Hansu gave a few final instructions and took the two little ones to follow the official through several corridors until Wangqiu Hall appeared before them.

The hall doors were open, the light inside slightly dim, making it appear more profound.

Stepping into the hall, a faint, calming scent of incense lingered at the tip of her nose.

Princess Xingguo sat upright on the Phoenix throne, dressed in casual clothes. Although not heavily adorned, she possessed an undeniable air of grace and majesty.

There was a faint trace of fatigue between her brows, as if she had just finished dealing with heavy official duties, but when her gaze swept over, it was still clear and sharp, carrying a gentle sense of oppression that could see through people’s hearts.

Lin Hansu stepped forward and bowed, “I bring my two younger sisters to pay respects to Your Highness.”

Zhao Yan and Ruan Ruan hurriedly followed suit.

Princess Xingguo’s gaze fell softly on the two little ones, and she said warmly, “Rise, all of you, no need for excessive etiquette. Come closer and let me see.”

The two obeyed and stepped forward.

Princess Xingguo looked at Zhao Yan first. The latter was bold, looking around curiously. When she realized Princess Xingguo was looking at her, not only did she not lower her eyes, but after staring back for a few seconds, she grinned at Princess Xingguo.

Beside them, Lin Hansu, who had been keeping an eye on them, felt her heart jump to her throat.

The capital would not be peaceful tonight. Your Highness had asked her to bring the two little ones to Princess Xingguos Residence as guests, in reality, to avoid any accidents.

Lin Hansu was moved by Your Highness’s thoroughness and care, but she was also worried that the little fox would be rude and displease Your Highness.

Fortunately, Princess Xingguo did not mind; instead, she responded to Zhao Yan’s silly, goofy smile with a smile of her own.

Subsequently, Princess Xingguo’s gaze turned to the obviously tense Ruan Ruan, “What is your name?”

Ruan Ruan’s heart tightened. Her mind was full of Lin Hansu’s earlier instructions to be ‘appropriate in words and actions’. She hurriedly curtsied and blurted out, “Re-replying to Your Highness, my name is Ruan Deti~”

“…”

The hall was silent for a moment.

Lin Hansu couldn’t bear to look. She awkwardly curled her toes.

Embarrassed for Ruan Ruan.

Ruan Ruan also realized what she had just said. In an instant, she blushed from her cheeks to her ears, and mist quickly welled up in her big, round eyes, looking like she was about to cry at her own stupidity, “No, that’s not it, Your Highness, I am called, called Ruan Ruan.”

Unexpectedly, Princess Xingguo, sitting above, laughed softly, the fatigue between her brows seeming to dissipate quite a bit, “Ruan Ruan. The Tao Te Ching says: ‘The softest things in the world override the hardest things in the world.’ The rigid is easily broken, the soft is easily bent. Only this softness contains resilience, inner benevolence, and outward gentleness… Hmm, a good name.”

Princess Xingguo’s smile did not fade, and her tone became increasingly gentle, carrying clear reassurance, “Do not be nervous. I remember that your father, Ruan Guofan, once served as a guard in the Princess Xingguos Residence in his early years. Although he later left the military and found other livelihoods, speaking of which, Ruan Ruan is not an outsider.”

Hearing her father’s name and learning that Your Highness still remembered him, the tension in Ruan Ruan’s heart immediately dissipated by more than half, replaced by a warm, flattered feeling.

She mustered the courage to look up, then quickly lowered her head again.

Seeing her delicate and cute appearance, Princess Xingguo raised her hand to take a delicately crafted gold hairpin with a jade inlay and small pearls from her hair, handing it over from a distance, “First meeting, I give this hairpin to you. I hope you will always keep this innocence in the future.”

Ruan Ruan was a bit confused, not knowing how to handle the current situation, and subconsciously looked at Lin Hansu.

Over there, an internal official stepped forward to take the hairpin and walked towards Ruan Ruan, offering it with both hands.

Seeing her still staring blankly at her, at a loss for what to do, Lin Hansu hurriedly whispered, “Ruan Ruan, hurry and thank Your Highness for the reward.”

“Oh, oh. Ruan Ruan thanks Your Highness for the reward.”

Unknowingly, she had completely relaxed.

Princess Consort sister was right; Your Highness is indeed very kind, just like, just like a loving elder.

But she got a reward, while the one beside her became jealous.

Seeing that Ruan Ruan got a beautiful hairpin, Zhao Yan gazed eagerly at Princess Xingguo. That fixed little gaze was just like a small beast begging for food.

The meaning was obvious: Your Highness, Your Highness, look at me, look at me, have you forgotten me?

Princess Xingguo was amused by her unpretentious manner and deliberately feigned ignorance, “Why are you looking at me?”

Zhao Yan pouted, as if she had suffered a great grievance, “Your Highness, is there nothing for me?”

“Hehehe”

Princess Xingguo suddenly laughed out loud, reached up to touch her hair, and remembered she only wore one hairpin this morning, so she took off a pair of red gold twisted bracelets from her wrist and handed them over, “You little girl, you are quite straightforward. Take these bracelets and wear them for fun.”

Zhao Yan immediately beamed with joy, not waiting for the official to come forward to take them for her, and walked straight over.

Eunuch He, who was bowing behind Princess Xingguo, stiffened, his feet slightly shifting. Although Princess Xingguo, who was smiling, had her back to him, she raised her hand and pressed it down in the air, signaling him not to be nervous.

Only then did Eunuch He let her walk to the front of the Phoenix throne.

Zhao Yan happily accepted the pair of red gold twisted bracelets, put them on immediately, and looked left and right, full of joy.

Before turning back, she didn’t forget to clumsily prostrate on the ground, sticking up her little butt, “Thank you, Your Highness, for the reward~”

“Rise~”

Princess Xingguo’s gaze turned back and forth between the two young ladies, who had distinct personalities but were equally lively. The smile on her face deepened, and the originally slightly heavy atmosphere in the hall became much more relaxed and lively.